Truss



- Nov. 14, 1939. w. WESTPHAL TRUSS Filed Sept 3. 1937 gwumwto'v; 7 mA. WasZp/zal.

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 PATENT oF' Fies TRUSS Walter A. WestphaLHagerstown, 'Md., assignor to The Md.

Web Truss Company, Hagerstown,

' Application September 3, 1937, Serial No. 162,379 7 3 Claims. (01. 128-417) This invention relates generally to truss devices and more particularly to those truss devices used in the treatment of hernias in the abdominal region, especially in the treatment of inguinal hernias.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a resilient truss of medicated material which will afford a certain means for efiecting a distribution of pressure across the line of a hernia, thereby retaining the hernia in position and reducing it in size.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ventilated truss for hernias whereby free circulation of air is permitted thereby preventing :devitalizing the abdominal muscles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a truss for inguinal hernia having sufiicient area whereby all portions of the hernia will beneficial support.

Another object of this invention is to have the belt fastening parts placed directly over the inguinal canals, thereby allowing additional pressure to be maintained at those places.

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the truss in normal wearing position,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of thepad structure, parts thereof being shown in section, and

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, parts being shown in elevation.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a truss pad A which is molded of medicated soft rubber or other yieldable material, includes a' continuous rim 6 of substantially circular cross section which consists of an upper horizontal section 1, downwardly and inwardly inclined sections 8, 8, and

receive a lower horizontal section 9 having a centrally I2, and join the sections 8, 8 and the medial rib I2, said ribs I4, I5 being disposed in parallelism with and in spaced relation to the ribs I3, I3. A circular web I 6 joins each pair of ribs i l, I5 and is disposed substantially midway between the medial ,rib- I2 and the section 8. These webs It are of such a thickness that they project slightly forwardly from the front face of the pad A. Openings I], I! which arev formed in thelower horizontal section 9 on opposite sides of the arch III, are in vertical alinement with the webs I6. Anchor plates I8, I8 are respectively embedded in the webs I6, I6, and screws I9, I9 extend inwardly from the front face of the pad and have threaded engagements with said plates.

An adjustable body encircling beltZt has its ends removably attached to said screws I9. Leg straps ZI, 2| have their rear ends joined to the rear portion of the belt 20, and have their. front ends extending upwardly through the openings I!, I! of the pad and removably and adjustably attached to said screws I9. Thus the openings I1, I! function to maintain the leg straps in spaced relation on opposite sides of the arch III.

The pad can be readily applied to or removed from a person, and when applied the pad will be retained in the proper position.

It is to be noted that by having the lateral ribs I3, I4 and I5 in spaced relationship free circulation of air is allowed, thereby minimizing discomfort to the wearer; that the upwardly inclined ribs constitute lines of support which traverse the abdominal muscles and thereby assure a greater benefit to the wearer by providing It is also to be noted that.

by disposing the webs I6 between the ribs I4 and I5, said webs will overlie the inguinal canals when the device is worn, and therefore, if for any reason it becomes necessary to increase the pressure on the inguinal canals, it can easily be accomplished by merely tightening the leg and body straps.

The truss is designed to conform to the contour of the structure of the lower abdominal region. The inguinal canals being situated on either side of this region are supported by the truss, which has been scientifically shaped to give the needed, evenly distributed pressure to compress the abdominal muscles, thereby closing the inguinal canals, thus preventing the escape of the intestines through the abdominal wall. In most cases there is a surplus of pubic fat which can be absorbed by wearing the truss, and after wearing it for a reasonable length of time the excess fat disappears and the truss seats itself in a closer relationship with the abdominal muscles, which compress and the result is the retention of the hernia without a devitalizing or circulatory disturbance.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a molded truss pad of yieldable material, a continuous rim including a broad horizontally disposed upper section, a vertically spaced relatively narrow lower section including laterally spaced horizontal portions, and downwardly and inwardly inclined side sections joining said upper and lower sections, a medial rib vertically disposed and joining said upper and lower sections, and at least one downwardly and laterally inclined rib located at each side of said medial rib and joining it with the side section at that particular side, means for facilitating attachment of the pad with a mounting harness and including a web member secured to the inclined rib at each side of the medial rib, said laterally spaced horizontal portions each having an opening extending centrally vertically therethrough and aligned with the respective web members, and an upwardly projected positioning arch formed centrally in said lower section between the laterally spaced portions thereof and connected with said medial rib.

2. In a molded truss pad of yieldable material, a continuous rim including spaced upper and lower sections and connecting side sections, the upper section being horizontally disposed and the lower section including a centrally disposed and upwardly extending arch and a horizontally disposed portion at each side of said arch, a medial rib joining said upper section and said arch, spaced downwardly and laterally inclined ribs located on each side of said medial rib and joining the latter with said side sections, webs respectively joining certain of the spaced inclined ribs and located on opposite sides of said arch, a body encircling belt having its ends overlying the front face of the pad and connected to said webs, and leg straps having their rear ends connected to the belt and their front ends connected to said webs.

3. In a molded truss pad of yieldable material, a continuous rim including spaced upper and lower sections and connecting side sections, the upper section being horizontally disposed and the lower section including a centrally disposed and upwardly extending arch and a horizontally disposed portion at each side of said arch, a medial rib joining said upper section and said arch, spaced downwardly and laterally inclined ribs located on each side of said medial rib and joining the'latter with said side sections, webs respectively joining certain of the spaced inclined ribs and located 'on opposite sides of said arch, the lower section horizontal portions being provided with vertical openings one at each side of said arch andbelow said webs, a body encircling belt having its ends overlying the front face of the pad and connected to said webs, and leg straps having their rear ends connected to the belt and their front ends extending upwardly through the openings in the lower section and connected to said webs.

' WALTER A, WESTPHAL. 

